By Hugh “Mac” McCloskey

 

Why learn to ride a motorcycle? It’s cheap on gas. Minimum maintenance is required. It doesn’t require a lot of space. But none of those reasons really crossed my mind when I started to learn to ride.

I was stationed at Pease Air Force Base in New Hampshire in 1981. I started talking to another airman in my shop, and he had a motorcycle. I didn’t know anything about motorcycles at the time, but I was curious. We went to the back part of the base and he introduced me to my first motorcycle. He taught me about shifting, balancing and paying attention. I thought it was the greatest thing on earth – and I later bought it from him.

I got the New Hampshire Motorcycle Pamphlet, studied it and was ready to take my test, both knowledge and riding. It wasn’t that hard, right? I showed up on test day, and it was pouring rain. I had my rain suit on, and I was ready to go.

I took the knowledge part of the test and passed. Now it was time to suit up and go out in the pouring rain and pass the skills portion. The state trooper took me to this large window and pointed out the course and instructed me what to do.

“I got this,” I thought.

I went out to the range and did exactly what he instructed, as he watched from inside the building. I passed. I was on top of the world.

But this was a whole new world, and I was about to learn how to survive in it.

That was more than 35 years ago, and I still wonder how I got my license. Times changed and so did many rules and regulations, most for the betterment of all motorcycle riders.

I went on to become a motorcycle safety instructor and taught on military installations for six years and in the United Kingdom, as well.

Being an instructor opened my eyes to many different techniques I could adapt to a safe riding style. This enabled me to enjoy many years of riding with minimal issues.

Proper countersteering techniques and being aware of what is around you can lead you to another great riding day.

My wife and I experienced this first hand. As we rode down I-95 toward Myrtle Beach Bike Week, we had the experience you don’t want to have. We were riding 65 mph and slowed for an approaching toll booth. We paid the toll and started merging into another lane that had a truck and horse trailer.

After we got into the lane, it started. The horse’s tail came over the back side of the trailer and the horse started to relieve itself. My wife grabbed my waist and – thanks to proper countersteering and situational awareness – I avoided a real mess.

Every riding day starts with high expectations, but how you deal with the curve balls that are thrown at you dictates how the day will end.

When my wife and I discuss riding duration, she has one idea, and I have another. It always depends on our attitudes, the type of roads we’re riding, the weather, how we’re dressed and where we’re riding.

This list isn’t all inclusive, but it’s a start in defining how far you’ll ride on any given day.

Nothing can replace good solid safety training skills. Learning from your buddy on an Air Force base is a start, but it can’t replace solid training techniques.

Hugh “Mac” McCloskey is an AMA member from Upper Chichester, Pa.